Electric switch.



No. 867,509. PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907.

B. JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24.1905.

Witnesses:

Edwin Johnson.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN JOHNSON, OF SOHENEGTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

Application filed August 24 1905- Serial No. 275,567.

To all "whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnwlN JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical cut-outs for electric circuits, and its object is to provide a switch particularly adapted for use in connection with suitable controlling or signaling circuits for some other piece of apparatus: such for instanccas an automatic circuitbreaker. In its normal position, that is, when the circuit-breaker is closed, my switch closes a gap in the tripping-coil circuit, so that the latter will be operative when occasion arises. When the circuit-breaker opens, my switch will close a second circuit, either to warn the operator, or to place in readiness electromagnetic coils for closing the circuit-breaker. In its broader aspect, the invention is not new, a device for this general purpose having-bcenheretofore worked out by Messrs Hewlett and Hill as per their application Serial No. 205,894, but my invention aims to introduce a time-limit effect, so that the switch will not operate until the last instant of the movement of the circuitbreaker in closing. This result is obtained by giving the actuating plunger of my switch considerable lost motion, and causing it to operate through a togglejoint which is tripped and allowed to flex suddenly under the action of a spring at the moment the circuitbreakcr closes.

In the. accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved switch, showing the contact-disk closed upon the contacts controlling the closing-coil circuit; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing the toggle flexed and the contact-disk closed upon the contacts controlling the tripping-coil circuit; Fig. 4 is an end view; and Fig. 5 is a diagram of possible connections. v

The switch may be mounted in a panel 1 having an opening 2 through it to receive the parts. The rear of this opening is closed by a block 3 of insulating matcrial, in the rear end of which is a socket 4 intersected by a transverse slot 5. 'A hole passes through the block concentric with the socket, and serves as a guide for a stem 6, which carries a metallic contact-disk 7 located in said socket. Strips 8 of resilient metal are secured to the outside of the block 3 and project over the outer end of the socket, where they are provided with contact-shoes 9. Each strip has a line-terminal clamp or receptacle 10 attached to it. In the transverse slot 5 are secured two flat springs 11 having contact-shoes 12 extending into-the socket 4. The contacts 9 form the terminals of the closing-coil circuit, and the contacts 12=are the terminals of the trippingcoil circuit, when the switch is used in connection with an automatic circuit-breaker: such for instance as that shown in U. S. Patent, No. 706,540.

The stem 6 has a head 13, and a helical spring 14 abuts between said head and the block 3, the latter being preferably countersunk around the stem to enable a longer spring to be used. The spring urges the stem forward, so that it tends to close its contact-disk 7 on the contacts 12. The head 13 carries one or more lugs to which is pivoted one member 15 of toggle, the second member 16 of which is pivoted to a bracket 17 on the inside of a cover 18 which closes the front end of the opening 2 in the panel. The cover and the block 3 are preferably fastened to said panel by two bolts 19 which pass through the cover and panel and are screwed into the block 3. The bracket 17 also supports a radius link 20 which is pivoted to the front end of the stem 6 and keeps it in proper alinerncnt.

Pivoted on the bracket, and preferably concentric with the member 16 of the toggle, is a rocker 21, having a toe 22 which rests above the joint of the toggle, and a heel 23 adapted to strike the underside of said joint. The rocker is pivotally connected with a sliding actuator or plunger 24, which projects through the cover 18 and is preferably guided in a tube 25 supported by the cover and the block 3. A spring 26 in said tube urges the plunger outward, and said spring is stronger than the spring 14 on the stem 6.

The operation will be better understood on reference to the diagram, Fig. 5. When the circuit-breaker 27 is in its closed position, some portion of it, such as the finger 28, keeps the plunger pushed in and its spring 26 compressed, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the toggle is flexed and the contact-disk on the stem is closed on the contacts 12 which are included in the circuit of the tripping-coil 29. Now, when the circuitbreaker is tripped, by closing the hand switch 30 or otherwise, the finger 28 is withdrawn, and the spring 26 shoots out the plunger into the position shown in Fig. 1. This movement causes the toe 22 of the rocker to push down the joint of the toggle and bring the members 15, 16 into line, compressingthe spring 14, and forcing the contact-disk 7 against the contacts 9 in the circuit of the closing-coil 31. The radius link 20 slightly lifts the end of the stem and causes the toggle joint to pass the dead center and to lock itself. Now when the switch 30 is turned to close .the circuit of the coil 31, and the circuit-breaker is thereby closed again, the plunger will be pushed inwardly without affecting the toggle, until just at the end of its movement the heel 23 of the rocker kicks up the toggle-joint and trips it,

allowing the spring 14 to throw the contact-disk away from the contacts 9 and thus open the closing-coil circuit. The resiliency of the contact springs 8 causes them to follow up the disk at first, so that the actual breaking of the closing-coil circuit does not take place until the circuit-breaker has been fully closed.

I have described my switch as applied to an automatic circuit-breaker having a tripping circuit and a closing circuit. But it is evident that it is capable of use in connection with any two circuits which it is desired to open and close alternately.

What I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,

1. In a switch, the combinationwith two sets of contacts, of'a contact-disk, a spring-actuated stem connected therelwith, a toggle connected with said stem, and a plunger provided with means for straightening said toggle when said plungeris moved in one :direction and for flexing said toggle when said plunger arrives at the end of its movement in the opposite direction.

- 2. In a switch, the combination with two sets of contacts, of a contact-disk, a spring-actuated stem connected -therewith, a toggle pivoted to said stem, a plunger. and

a rocker actuated by said plunger and operating to set andtrip said toggle.

3. In a switch, the combination with two sets of contacts, of a contact-dlsk, a stem carrying said disk, a toggle toggle and the other end below it, and aplunger pivotally connected with said rocker. 4. In aswitch, the combination with two sets of contacts. of a contactdisk, a stem carrying said disk. a toggle pivoted to said stem, a rocker having one end above said toggle and the otherend below it, a plunger pivoted to said rocker. a spring for actuating said stem when the toggle is tripped. and a stronger spring for actuating said plunger to set said toggle.

5. In a'swit ch, the combination witlrtlie panel. 1 having an opening 2, of a block 3 having a socket 4 and transverse slot 5, contacts 9 at the outer end of the socket, contacts 12 in said slot, a metallic contact-disk 7 in said socket, a spring-actuated stemfl for said disk, a toggle for moving said disk ,fromone set of contacts to the other, and a rocker for setting and tripping said toggle;

6. In a switch, the combination with the panel 1 having an opening 2 of a block 3 and a cover 13 at opposite ends of said opening, a tube 25held between said block and cover, a spring plunger in said tnbefa rocker pivotally supported by said cover and connected with said plunger.

a movable contact. and a toggle for moving it. adapted to be set and tripped by the toe and heel of said rocker;

in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of August, 1905.

EDWIN JOHNSON.

Witnesses l BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onnonn. 

